'For 300 years we have been giving children some serious licks'
Garrick said
17:06 05/09 2008
EDUCATION Minister Andrew Holness says schools would be supported in alternative methods of instilling discipline, instead of the use of corporal punishment, which he called demeaning and outdated.
The minister said the possibility of prosecuting delinquent parents, placing deans of discipline in all high schools, and the introduction of a behaviour management strategy were some of the ways schools will be assisted in enforcing discipline in students.
Director of administration at Kingston Bookshop, Sonia Fuller, pins a boutonniere on the lapel of the Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, on his arrival at a teachers' luncheon, hosted by Kingston Bookshop at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday. Sharing in the occasion is assistant director of administration at the bookshop, Shauna Fuller.
Speaking at a luncheon in honour of teachers in St Andrew Tuesday, Holness said while some teachers felt corporal punishment was an effective tool, it was failing to achieve the desired impact.
"For 300 years, we have been giving our children some serious licks. I think it's time that we try something else, don't you?" the minister said to murmuring from some teachers at the Terra Nova Hotel.
"The evidence is clear that corporal punishment is only a short-term solution to instilling discipline. Violent, demeaning, aggressive disciplinary instruction only teaches our children that the only way to change behaviour is by resorting to violence. And we sit and wonder why our society is so violent?" Holness said.
He said that Jamaica, as a signatory to several international conventions on children's rights and with the passage of the Child Care and Protection Act, corporal punishment in schools was in contradiction of the country's laws.
"I'm not going to back down, we're going to argue it through because this is one of the keys to changing the outcomes of our current education system", Holness said.
But to support the teachers in their efforts, the role of parents would be formalised with the establishment of the parenting commission. The commission will develop programmes of minimum standards of parenting, provide support to parents and institute a public education campaign on parenting. Churches and other organisations will also be utilised in this regard.
Holness said he would ensure the prosecution of "neglectful and delinquent parents", if necessary. He cited as examples parents "who allow their little ones to end up at dance, leave their children to go to dance, and go to school to cuss off the teacher".
In the meantime, the minister said the process to create the post of dean of discipline in all secondary schools would not be completed in time for the next academic year in September. "Schools who want to put in a dean of discipline on their own, should do so, with the assurance that come September, the past will be formalised. Some schools already have the post", he said.
The behaviour management strategy to be implemented by the deans of discipline would include classroom management, building self esteem of students, and systems of punishment including detentions, demerits and suspensions.
"The regular classroom teacher ought not to be overburdened in dealing with these issues...The schools will be more empowered now," said the education minister.
At the luncheon, sponsored by Kingston Bookshop Ltd, educators Dahlia Repole, principal of Excelsior Community College and Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, were honoured, while retiring principal of St Jago High School, Keith Noel was recognised for his 'unique contribution' to education through the arts and sports.
Garrick said
17:07 05/09 2008
While child abuse is wrong... Some of these damn bad pickney fi get some ra** lick fi straighten dem out.
pengo said
17:07 05/09 2008
Lick noh change children.
Garrick said
17:10 05/09 2008
mi and you disagree pon da point deh. We are taking these notions form the US philosophies.....the nation with the highest level of juvenile delinquency.
Shottess said
19:47 05/09 2008
Strongly agree Garricc
Piccney fi get some BITCH licc PLUS other forms of punishment ...parents need to also offer incentives to reinforce good behavior...
djshadow said
19:47 05/09 2008
i agree
Crazypickney said
20:18 05/09 2008
never knew that children are still getting beating
Dj Moet said
20:20 05/09 2008
KISTETH IF SOME A DEM PICKNEY YA DID A GET BEATING BEATING DEM WOULDNT SO BAD SI ALL A LITLE GIRL KISS HER TEETH AND VEX WID HER MADA WEY DAY ME SEY IF A YARD SHE DEH HER FRONT TEEETH DEM WOULDA STAY LIKE TITUS WHEN SHE KISS DEM IT WHISTLE CUSE ONE *lo**LCTE BAX SHE A GET
Garrick said
08:12 05/10 2008
Lol @ moet
del058 said
09:07 05/10 2008
Pickney fi get lick but not by strangers. Leave the beating to the parents!!!!
up2 said
09:34 05/10 2008
yow teacha dem fi beat out dem raaass
mi n nuff a unnu grow up unda dat regime n we neva turn out bad..a when dem stop beat dem d yutes dem get out a hand
kurt said
11:11 05/10 2008
dem fi stop get lick an start get kick an box cuz a big man an woman deh yah nowadays
Shem1 said
11:16 05/10 2008
ok we all kno seh everybody a yard a either badman or wanna be badman and dem nuh ave nuh manners, alrite di people dem a foreign nuh get lick and dem cuss out teacher fight teacher etc down a yard dem kno seh if dem do dat dem ago get lick which settle dem dung. if them set a law fi nuh beat the likkle pickney dem den di pickney dem ago tek advantage over it and do even something that wud b seriously dangerous
linko said
11:57 05/10 2008
dat mi seh
STUWY77 said
13:41 05/10 2008
spare the rod and spoil the child thing no work.. some a dem pickney yah too wrenk. When u buck up pon a real hardcore teacher u on yu ps and qs so lick influence pickney fi be better.
mrs kalongi said
17:56 05/10 2008
dwl@moet yu zeet
najah said
17:57 05/10 2008
tru man
Shottess said
18:00 05/10 2008
Moet...a nuh only piccney get beat...i see ma granny shot mi 39 year old Auntie a raasclaat box one time cah she cuss badword awfa har... i swear ma auntie jaw twiss up...I DEADDDDDD....den ma auntie come kuff mi inna mi head lata fi laugh =(
Shem1 said
18:02 05/10 2008
Shottess wrote:
Moet...a nuh only piccney get beat...i see ma granny shot mi 39 year old Auntie a raasclaat box one time cah she cuss badword awfa har... i swear ma auntie jaw twiss up...I DEADDDDDD....den ma auntie come kuff mi inna mi head lata fi laugh =(
EDUCATION Minister Andrew Holness says schools would be supported in alternative methods of instilling discipline, instead of the use of corporal punishment, which he called demeaning and outdated.
The minister said the possibility of prosecuting delinquent parents, placing deans of discipline in all high schools, and the introduction of a behaviour management strategy were some of the ways schools will be assisted in enforcing discipline in students.
Speaking at a luncheon in honour of teachers in St Andrew Tuesday, Holness said while some teachers felt corporal punishment was an effective tool, it was failing to achieve the desired impact.
"For 300 years, we have been giving our children some serious licks. I think it's time that we try something else, don't you?" the minister said to murmuring from some teachers at the Terra Nova Hotel.
"The evidence is clear that corporal punishment is only a short-term solution to instilling discipline. Violent, demeaning, aggressive disciplinary instruction only teaches our children that the only way to change behaviour is by resorting to violence. And we sit and wonder why our society is so violent?" Holness said.
He said that Jamaica, as a signatory to several international conventions on children's rights and with the passage of the Child Care and Protection Act, corporal punishment in schools was in contradiction of the country's laws.
"I'm not going to back down, we're going to argue it through because this is one of the keys to changing the outcomes of our current education system", Holness said.
But to support the teachers in their efforts, the role of parents would be formalised with the establishment of the parenting commission. The commission will develop programmes of minimum standards of parenting, provide support to parents and institute a public education campaign on parenting. Churches and other organisations will also be utilised in this regard.
Holness said he would ensure the prosecution of "neglectful and delinquent parents", if necessary. He cited as examples parents "who allow their little ones to end up at dance, leave their children to go to dance, and go to school to cuss off the teacher".
In the meantime, the minister said the process to create the post of dean of discipline in all secondary schools would not be completed in time for the next academic year in September. "Schools who want to put in a dean of discipline on their own, should do so, with the assurance that come September, the past will be formalised. Some schools already have the post", he said.
The behaviour management strategy to be implemented by the deans of discipline would include classroom management, building self esteem of students, and systems of punishment including detentions, demerits and suspensions.
"The regular classroom teacher ought not to be overburdened in dealing with these issues...The schools will be more empowered now," said the education minister.
At the luncheon, sponsored by Kingston Bookshop Ltd, educators Dahlia Repole, principal of Excelsior Community College and Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, were honoured, while retiring principal of St Jago High School, Keith Noel was recognised for his 'unique contribution' to education through the arts and sports.
damn